Optimized relaxivity and stability of [Gd(H(2,2)-1,2-HOPO)(H2O)]- for use as an MRI contrast agent

The electrostatic confinement of aquated monocationic Gd(III) complex-molecules within the inner core of porous silica nanoparticles creates a highly efficient T1 contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging

Contrast-agent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been under continuous investigation for the conspicuous imaging of lesions and the early-stage detection of tumors. To achieve the development of a T₁-weighted contrast agent with a high relaxivity value, herein, porous silica nanoparticles that had internalized about 20 aquated cationic Gd(III) complexes (1) of the hexadentate hydroxyethyl-appended picolinate-based ligand H₂hbda were demonstrated. Complex 1 exhibited a longitudinal relaxivity value per mM Gd(III) ions, r₁, of 9.05 mM^-1 s^-1 (pH 7.4, 37 °C, 1.41 T), which increased to 86.41 mM^-1 s^-1 because of the grafting of complex 1 in the inner core of porous silica nanospheres through electrostatic interactions between the anionic silica surface and the cationic complex 1 molecules. A further augmentation in the relaxivity value to 118.32 mM^-1 s^-1 was realized because of the interaction of the complex 1@SiO₂NPs with serum albumin protein. The synthesized nanosystem was impervious to physiologically available anions (HPO₄^2- and HCO₃^1-) and also kinetically inert, as evidenced via a transmetallation experiment in the presence of Zn(II) ions. The developed complex-incorporated nanomaterial was bio- and hemo-compatible. Cellular uptake measurements employing HeLa cells and the concentration-dependent enhancement in the brightness of in vitro phantom images, recorded under a clinical scanner at 1.5 T, demonstrated that the developed biocompatible 1@SiO₂NP complex has promising diagnostic applications as a T₁-weighted MRI contrast agent.

Coordination-Directed Self-Assembly of Functional Polynuclear Lanthanide Supramolecular Architectures

Lanthanide supramolecular chemistry is a fast growing and intriguing research field due to the unique photophysical, magnetic, and coordination properties of lanthanide ions (Ln^III). Compared with the intensively investigated mononuclear Ln-complexes, polymetallic lanthanide supramolecular assemblies offer more structural superiority and functional advantages. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in polynuclear lanthanide supramolecules, varying from structural evolution to luminescent and magnetic functional materials. This review summarizes the design principles in ligand-induced coordination-driven self-assembly of polynuclear Ln-structures and intends to offer guidance for the construction of more elegant Ln-based architectures and optimization of their functional performances. Design principles concerning the water solubility and chirality of the lanthanide-organic assemblies that are vital in extending their applications are emphasized. The strategies for improving the luminescent properties and the applications in up-conversion, host-guest chemistry, luminescent sensing, and catalysis have been summarized. Magnetic materials based on supramolecular assembled lanthanide architectures are given in an individual section and are classified based on their structural features. Challenges remaining and perspective directions in this field are also briefly discussed.

High Antiproliferative Activity of Hydroxythiopyridones over Hydroxypyridones and Their Organoruthenium Complexes

Hydroxypyr(id)ones are a pharmaceutically important class of compounds that have shown potential in diverse areas of drug discovery. We investigated the 3-hydroxy-4-pyridones 1a-1c and 3-hydroxy-4-thiopyridones 1d-1f as well as their Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl complexes 2a-2f, and report here the molecular structures of 1b and 1d as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Detailed cell biological investigations revealed potent cytotoxic activity, in particular of the 3-hydroxy-4-thiopyridones 1d-1f, while the Ru complexes of both compound types were less potent, despite still showing antiproliferative activity in the low μM range. The compounds did not modulate the cell cycle distribution of cancer cells but were cytostatic in A549 and cytotoxic in NCI-H522 non-small lung cancer cells, among other effects on cancer cells.

pH-Dependent Hydration Change in a Gd-Based MRI Contrast Agent with a Phosphonated Ligand

The heptadentate ligand L was shown to form an extremely stable Gd complex at neutral pH with a pGd value of 18.4 at pH 7.4. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes formed with Gd and Tb displayed two very different coordination behaviors being, respectively, octa- and nonacoordinated. The relaxometric properties of the Gd complex were studied by field-dependent relaxivity measurements at various temperatures and by ¹⁷ O NMR spectroscopy. The pH-dependence of the longitudinal relaxivity profile indicated large changes around neutral pH leading to a very large value of 10.1 mm^-1 ⋅s^-1 (60 MHz, 298 K) at pH 4.7. The changes were attributed to an increase of the hydration number from one water molecule in basic conditions to two at acidic pH. A similar trend was observed for the luminescence of the Eu complex, confirming the change in hydration state. DOSY experiments were performed on the Lu analogue, pointing to the absence of dimers in solution in the considered pH range. A breathing mode of the complex was postulated, which was further supported by ¹ H and ³¹ P NMR spectroscopy of the Yb complex at varying pH and was finally modeled by DFT calculations.

A highly stable l-alanine-based mono(aquated) Mn(ii) complex as a T1-weighted MRI contrast agent

The synthesized lithium (S)-6,6'-(1-carboxyethylazanediyl)bis(methylene)dipicolinate (Li₃cbda) is a new chiral, alanine-based ligand bearing two picolinate functionalities. The trianionic form of the ligand [(cbda)^3-] constitutes a seven-coordinate, water-soluble, pentagonal bipyramidal Mn(ii) complex (1). The structural analysis reveals the presence of a water coordinating site in the complex. The complex is thermodynamically very stable, and the stability is not affected by the presence of physiological anions (HCO₃^-, PO₄^3-, and F^-). The pH of the medium exerts a small effect on the stability of the complex. The r₁ relaxivity of 3.02 mM^-1 s^-1 is exhibited by the complex at 1.41 T, pH ∼7.4, and 25 °C. Phantom images obtained via a clinical MRI BRIVO MR355 system established concentration-dependent signal enhancement by the complex. The cytotoxicity test confirmed complex 1 as a biocompatible potential T₁-weighted MRI contrast agent.

Spectroscopic and Computational Characterization of Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid/Transplutonium Chelates: Evidencing Heterogeneity in the Heavy Actinide(III) Series

The chemistry of trivalent transplutonium ions (Am³⁺ , Cm³⁺ , Bk³⁺ , Cf³⁺ , Es³⁺ …) is usually perceived as monotonic and paralleling that of the trivalent lanthanide series. Herein, we present the first extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) study performed on a series of aqueous heavy actinide chelates, extending past Cm. The results obtained on diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) complexes of trivalent Am, Cm, Bk, and Cf show a break to much shorter metal-oxygen nearest-neighbor bond lengths in the case of Cf³⁺ . Corroborating those results, density functional theory calculations, extended to Es³⁺ , suggest that the shorter Cf-O and Es-O bonds could arise from the departure of the coordinated water molecule and contraction of the ligand around the metal relative to the other [M^III DTPA(H₂ O)]^2- (M=Am, Cm, Bk) complexes. Taken together, these experimental and theoretical results demonstrate inhomogeneity within the trivalent transplutonium series that has been insinuated and debated in recent years, and that may also be leveraged for future nuclear waste reprocessing technologies.

Toxic heavy metal – Pb, Cd, Sn – complexation by the octadentate hydroxypyridinonate ligand archetype 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO)

The toxicity of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and tin (Sn) has long been known but accidental exposures of large populations to these elements remain unfortunately a topical issue.

A new heptadentate picolinate-based ligand and its corresponding Gd(iii) complex: the effect of pendant picolinate versus acetate on complex properties

Replacing one picolinate pendant by acetate group in H₄bpeda ligand, the synthesised bis(aquated) Gd(iii) complex of ligand H4peada showed better stability and r₁ relaxivity for its potential use as MRI contrast agent.

Functionalization of Ruthenium(II)(η6 -p-cymene)(3-hydroxy-2-pyridone) Complexes with (Thio)Morpholine: Synthesis and Bioanalytical Studies

Hydroxypyr(id)ones constitute an emerging platform for the design of drug molecules, owing to their favorable biocompatibility and toxicity profiles. Herein, [Ru^II (η⁶ -p-cymene)] complexes with 3-hydroxy-2-pyridinone functionalized with morpholine and thiomorpholine, as a means often used in medicinal chemistry to alter the physicochemical properties of drug compounds, are reported. The compounds underwent hydrolysis of the Ru-Cl bond and the aqua species were stable for up to 48 h in aqueous solution, as observed by ¹ H NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS. The compounds formed adducts with amino acids and proteins through cleavage of the pyridinone ligand. Binding experiments to the nucleosome core particle by means of X-ray crystallography revealed similar reactivity and exclusive binding to histidine moieties of the histone proteins. Preliminary cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/cyclin A kinase inhibitory studies revealed promising activity similar to that of structurally related organometallic compounds.

The importance of water exchange rates in the design of responsive agents for MRI

The rate of water exchange in lanthanide complexes is often overlooked as an important parameter in the design of responsive MR imaging agents. Most often, the number of inner-sphere water coordination sites or the rotational mobility of the complex is considered as the central theme while water exchange is either assumed to be "fast enough" or entirely ignored. On the contrary, relaxation and shift theories predict that water exchange rates may indeed be the key parameter one should consider in any new molecular design. In this short review, the impact of water exchange rates on three classes of lanthanide-based MRI contrast agents, T₁-based relaxation agents, T₂ exchange line-broadening agents and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) agents, is illustrated and discussed.

Gd@C82 metallofullerenes for neutron capture therapy-fullerene solubilization by poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-(N, N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and resultant efficacy in vitro

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG-b-PAMA) was found to solubilize fullerenes such as C60, and this technique was applied to metallofullerenes. Gd@C82 was easily dissolved in water in the presence of PEG-b-PAMA without any covalent derivatization, forming a transparent complex about 20-30 nm in diameter. Low cytotoxicity was confirmed in vitro. Neutron irradiation of cultured cells (colon-26 adenocarcinoma) with Gd@C82-PEG-b-PAMA-complexed nanoparticles showed effective cytotoxicity, indicating the effective emission of gamma rays and internal conversion electrons produced from the neutron capture reaction of Gd. This result suggests a potentially valuable approach to gadolinium-based neutron capture therapy.

Is the reactivity of M(II)-arene complexes of 3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridones to biomolecules the anticancer activity determining parameter?

Hydroxypyr(id)ones are versatile ligands for the synthesis of organometallic anticancer agents, equipping them with fine-tunable pharmacological properties. Herein, we report on the preparation, mode of action, and in vitro anticancer activity of Ru(II)- and Os(II)-arene complexes with alkoxycarbonylmethyl-3-hydroxy-2-pyridone ligands. The hydrolysis and binding to amino acids proceed quickly, as characterized by NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. However, the reaction with amino acids causes cleavage of the pyridone ligands from the metal center because the amino acids act as multidentate ligands. A similar behavior was also observed during the reactions with the model proteins ubiquitin and cytochrome c, yielding mainly [protein + M(eta(6)-p-cymene)] adducts (M = Ru, Os). Notably the ligand cleavage of the Os derivative was significantly slower than of its Ru analogue, which could explain its higher activity in in vitro anticancer assays. Furthermore, the reaction of the compounds to 5'-GMP was characterized and coordination to the N7 of the guanine moiety was demonstrated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. CDK2/Cyclin A protein kinase inhibition studies revealed potent activity of the Ru and Os complexes.

Cellular compartmentalization of internalized paramagnetic liposomes strongly influences both T1 and T2 relaxivity

In recent years, numerous Gd(3+)-based contrast agents have been developed to enable target-specific MR imaging of in vivo processes at the molecular level. The combination of powerful contrast agents and amplification strategies, aimed at increasing the contrast agent dose at the target site, is an often-used strategy to improve the sensitivity of biomarker detection. One such amplification mechanism is to target a disease-specific cell membrane receptor that can undergo multiple rounds of internalization following ligand binding and thus shuttle a sizeable amount of contrast agent into the target cell. An example of such a membrane receptor is the alpha(nu)beta(3) integrin. The goal of this study was to investigate the consequences of this amplification approach for the T(1)- and T(2)-shortening efficacy of a paramagnetic contrast agent. Cultured endothelial cells were incubated with paramagnetic liposomes that were conjugated with a cyclic RGD-peptide to enable internalization by means of the alpha(nu)beta(3) integrin receptor. Non-targeted liposomes served as a control. This study showed that alpha(nu)beta(3) targeting dramatically increased the uptake of paramagnetic liposomes. This targeting strategy, however, strongly influenced both the longitudinal and transverse relaxivity of the internalized paramagnetic liposomes.

Responsive MRI agents for sensing metabolism in vivo

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has inherent advantages in safety, three-dimensional output, and clinical relevance when compared with optical and radiotracer imaging methods. However, MRI contrast agents are inherently less sensitive than agents used in other imaging modalities primarily because MRI agents are detected indirectly by changes in either the water proton relaxation rates (T(1), T(2), and T(*)(2)) or water proton intensities (chemical exchange saturation transfer and paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer, CEST and PARACEST). Consequently, the detection limit of an MRI agent is determined by the characteristics of the background water signal; by contrast, optical and radiotracer-based methods permit direct detection of the agent itself. By virtue of responding to background water (which reflects bulk cell properties), however, MRI contrast agents have considerable advantages in "metabolic" imaging, that is, spatially resolving tissue variations in pH, redox state, oxygenation, or metabolite levels. In this Account, we begin by examining sensitivity limits in targeted contrast agents and then address contrast agents that respond to a physiological change; these responsive agents are effective metabolic imaging sensors. The sensitivity requirements for a metabolic imaging agent are quite different from those for a targeted Gd(3+)-based T(1) agent (for example, sensing cell receptors). Targeted Gd(3+) agents must have either an extraordinarily high water proton relaxivity (r(1)) or multiple Gd(3+) complexes clustered together at the target site on a polymer platform or nanoparticle assembly. Metabolic MRI agents differ in that the high relaxivity requirement, although helpful, is eased because these agents respond to bulk properties of tissues rather than low concentrations of a specific biological target. For optimal sensing, metabolic imaging agents should display a large change in relaxivity (deltar(1)) in response to the physiological or metabolic parameter of interest. Metabolic imaging agents have only recently begun to appear in the literature and only a few have been demonstrated in vivo. MRI maps of absolute tissue pH have been obtained with Gd(3+)-based T(1) sensors. The requirement of an independent measure of agent concentration in tissues complicates these experiments, but if qualitative changes in tissue pH are acceptable, then these agents can be quite useful. In this review, we describe examples of imaging extracellular pH in brain tumors, ischemic hearts, and pancreatic islets with Gd(3+)-based pH sensors and discuss the potential of CEST and PARACEST agents as metabolic imaging sensors.

Influence of molecular parameters and increasing magnetic field strength on relaxivity of gadolinium- and manganese-based T1 contrast agents

Simulations were performed to understand the relative contributions of molecular parameters to longitudinal (r(1)) and transverse (r(2)) relaxivity as a function of applied field, and to obtain theoretical relaxivity maxima over a range of fields to appreciate what relaxivities can be achieved experimentally. The field-dependent relaxivities of a panel of gadolinium and manganese complexes with different molecular parameters, water exchange rates, rotational correlation times, hydration state, etc. were measured to confirm that measured relaxivities were consistent with theory. The design tenets previously stressed for optimizing r(1) at low fields (very slow rotational motion; chelate immobilized by protein binding; optimized water exchange rate) do not apply at higher fields. At 1.5 T and higher fields, an intermediate rotational correlation time is desired (0.5-4 ns), while water exchange rate is not as critical to achieving a high r(1). For targeted applications it is recommended to tether a multimer of metal chelates to a protein-targeting group via a long flexible linker to decouple the slow motion of the protein from the water(s) bound to the metal ions. Per ion relaxivities of 80, 45, and 18 mM(-1) s(-1) at 1.5, 3 and 9.4 T, respectively, are feasible for Gd(3+) and Mn(2+) complexes.

Correlation of relaxivity with coordination number in six-, seven-, and eight-coordinate Mn(II) complexes of pendant-arm cyclen derivatives

The syntheses and characterization of several complexes of Mn(II) with cyclen derivatives having variable numbers of pendant N-acetic acid or N-acetamide arms are reported. X-ray crystallographic results are presented for Mn(DOTAM)Cl(2) x 2 H(2)O (monoclinic C2/c, a = 18.5798(15), b = 13.6006(11), c = 10.5800(8) A, beta = 110.490(1) degrees, Z = 4), [Mn(DO3AM)][MnCl(4)] x EtOH (monoclinic P2(1)/n, a = 8.366(8), b = 19.483(2), c = 16.3627(16) A, beta = 99.254(2) degrees, Z = 4), and Mn(H(2)DOTA) (monoclinic C2/c, a = 16.374(3), b = 6.6559(13), c = 16.750(3) A, beta = 98.381(3) degrees, Z = 4), which exhibit 8-, 7-, and 6-coordinate Mn(II), respectively. (1)H relaxivity data in water at 20 MHz and 37 degrees C is presented and interpreted in terms of a mechanism involving transient binding of water in an associative intermediate. Relaxivity studies in mixed water/methanol solvents are consistent with this interpretation.

1,2-hydroxypyridonate/terephthalamide complexes of gadolinium(III): synthesis, stability, relaxivity, and water exchange properties

Four new Gd(III) complexes based on the 1,2-hydroxypyridinone chelator have been synthesized and evaluated as potential magentic resonance imaging contrast agents. Previously reported work examining Gd-TREN-1,2-HOPO (3; HOPO = hydroxypyridinone) suggests that the 1,2-HOPO unit binds strongly and selectively to Gd(III), encouraging further study of the stability and relaxivity properties of this class of compounds. Among the new complexes presented in this paper are the homopodal Gd-Ser-TREN-1,2-HOPO (Gd-5) and three heteropodal bis-1,2-HOPO-TAM complexes (Gd-6, Gd-7, and Gd-8; TAM = terephthalamide). Conditional stability constants were determined, and all pGd values are in the range of 18.5-19.7, comparable to other analogous HOPO complexes and currently used commercial contrast agents. Relaxivities for all complexes are about twice those of commercial agents, ranging from 7.8 to 10.5 mM(-1) s(-1) (20 MHz; 25 degrees C), and suggest two innersphere water molecules in fast exchange. Luminescent measurements were used to verify the number of coordinated waters for Gd-5, and VT (17)O NMR experiments were employed for the highly soluble Gd-TREN-bis-1,2-HOPO-TAM-N3 (Gd-8) complex to measure a fast water exchange rate, (298)k(ex) = 1/tau(M), of 5.1 (+/-0.4) x 10(8) s(-1) ((298)tau(M) approximately 2 ns).

High-relaxivity MRI contrast agents: where coordination chemistry meets medical imaging

The desire to improve and expand the scope of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has prompted the search for contrast agents of higher efficiency. The development of better agents requires consideration of the fundamental coordination chemistry of the gadolinium(III) ion and the parameters that affect its efficacy as a proton relaxation agent. In optimizing each parameter, other practical issues, such as solubility and in vivo toxicity, must also be addressed, making the attainment of safe, high-relaxivity agents a challenging goal. This Minireview presents recent advances in the field, with an emphasis on gadolinium(III) hydroxypyridinone chelate complexes.

Gadolinium(III) complexes as MRI contrast agents: ligand design and properties of the complexes

Magnetic resonance imaging is a commonly used diagnostic method in medicinal practice as well as in biological and preclinical research. Contrast agents (CAs), which are often applied are mostly based on Gd(III) complexes. In this paper, the ligand types and structures of their complexes on one side and a set of the physico-chemical parameters governing properties of the CAs on the other side are discussed. The solid-state structures of lanthanide(III) complexes of open-chain and macrocyclic ligands and their structural features are compared. Examples of tuning of ligand structures to alter the relaxometric properties of gadolinium(III) complexes as a number of coordinated water molecules, their residence time (exchange rate) or reorientation time of the complexes are given. Influence of the structural changes of the ligands on thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness/lability of their lanthanide(III) complexes is discussed.

High relaxivity gadolinium hydroxypyridonate-viral capsid conjugates: nanosized MRI contrast agents

High relaxivity macromolecular contrast agents based on the conjugation of gadolinium chelates to the interior and exterior surfaces of MS2 viral capsids are assessed. The proton nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles of the conjugates show up to a 5-fold increase in relaxivity, leading to a peak relaxivity (per Gd3+ ion) of 41.6 mM(-1) s(-1) at 30 MHz for the internally modified capsids. Modification of the exterior was achieved through conjugation to flexible lysines, while internal modification was accomplished by conjugation to relatively rigid tyrosines. Higher relaxivities were obtained for the internally modified capsids, showing that (i) there is facile diffusion of water to the interior of capsids and (ii) the rigidity of the linker attaching the complex to the macromolecule is important for obtaining high relaxivity enhancements. The viral capsid conjugated gadolinium hydroxypyridonate complexes appear to possess two inner-sphere water molecules (q = 2), and the NMRD fittings highlight the differences in the local motion for the internal (tauRl = 440 ps) and external (tauRl = 310 ps) conjugates. These results indicate that there are significant advantages of using the internal surface of the capsids for contrast agent attachment, leaving the exterior surface available for the installation of tissue targeting groups.

Optimized relaxivity and stability of [Gd(H(2,2)-1,2-HOPO)(H2O)]- for use as an MRI contrast agent

Relaxometry and solution thermodynamic measurements show that Gd(H(2,2)-1,2-HOPO) is a good candidate as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-CA). Acidic, octadentate H(2,2)-1,2-HOPO forms a very stable Gd(III) complex [pGd=21.2(2)]. The coordination sphere at the Gd(III) center is completed by one water molecule that is not replaced by common physiological anions. In addition, this ligand is highly selective for Gd(III) binding in the presence of Zn(II) or Ca(II). The symmetric charge distribution of the 1,2-HOPO chelates is associated with favorably long electronic relaxation time T1,2e comparable to those of GdDOTA. This, in addition to the fast water exchange rate typical of HOPO chelates, improves the relaxivity to r1p=8.2 mM-1 s-1 (0.47 T). This remarkably high value is unprecedented for small-molecule, q=1 MRI-CA.